STATE OF THE MEDIA IN ZAMBIA Potential new publications in Zambia During the second half of 2017, five potential new publications were registered with the National Archives of Zambia. The five brought the cumulative number of newspapers/magazines registered with the National Archive of Zambia as at 31 December 2017 to 1027. The five potential publications are: Name Date of registration Type of publication Quest Africa 25 July 2017 Magazine Financial Express 2 November 2017 Newspaper Bantu 22 November 2017 Magazine Zambian Punch 4 December 2017 Newspaper Cars and Bikes 14 December 2017 Magazine Source: National Archives of Zambia 5.0 Conclusion The final presidential assent to ZNBC (Amendment) Bill, 2017 and IBA (Amendment) Bill, 2017 should impose serious obligations on the institutions that will collect the television levy to fully account of the amounts collected and for institutions that will utilise the money allocated to clearly explain how the revenue is utilised. This is the only way that the public or subscribers will appreciate payment of television levy. The harassment, intimidation, threats and attacks – blatant or implied – of media personnel and media houses should never be tolerated at this time and age of civility. Every effort should be made to ensure that media practitioners undertake their critical work of informing the public in a peaceful and safe environment. The government needs to actualise the ideal of making the ZNBC a truly public service broadcaster by dismantling barriers that impede this change. There is seeming reluctance at different levels – whether at management or high ruling party echelon - to transform the ZNBC. It is no wonder the ZNBC was congratulated for allowing a leader of a political party to be interviewed on its 25